Hart

Hart's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 91,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Hart increased by 9.0%, from about 83,500 to 91,000.

The addition of just over 7,500 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Hart was home to, on average, 3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Hart

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Hart increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This affluent rural area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 12% of people in Hart are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Hart by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Hart, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South East, except Dover.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 14% to 11%.

During this period, Hart overtook 11 local authority areas, including Maidstone and Wealden, to become the South East local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of long hours workers.

Long hour working was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Hart

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership changed very little in Hart, while the proportion increased across the South East.

In Hart, the proportion of single people stayed close to 26% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Hart fell from 60% to 58%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.5% to 10%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Hart

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. An increase from 16% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Hart.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Hart that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 64,000 in 2001 to just under 59,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 5,300 to about 6,400 (from 6.4% to 7.1%).

About 720 people (0.3%) said they were Hindu, up from about 250 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population without a religion in Hart increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Hart by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Hart

The percentage of Hart residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.8% to 2.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.7%, while the percentage of Hart residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 92% to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Hart

In 2011, 95% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Hart.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Hart from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 920 in 2001 to about 2,400 in 2011 (from 1.1% to 2.7%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 600 to about 1,500 (from 0.7% to 1.6%).

Just under 510 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 220 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Hart decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Hart by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Hart, but at a slower rate than in Rushmoor (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Hart).

In Hart, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.7% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rushmoor increased from 11% to 18%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Hart remained close to 7.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 81% to 78%.

Private renting in Hart increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Hart, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Hart

The percentage of employed people fell in Hart at a faster rate than across England.

In Hart, the proportion of employed people decreased from 62% in 2001 to 59% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 53% to 52%.

Across the South East, the share of employed people decreased from 55% to 54%.

The rate of unemployment in Hart remained close to 2.4%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 9.9% to 11%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Hart residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 4.8% to 2.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (88%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 77% in 2001. The percentage of Hart residents that described their health as fair decreased from 18% to 9.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Hart decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Hart, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Hart, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.1% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (46%) households had a married couple, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of households in Hart, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.6% to 9.2%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Hart residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.6%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Hart remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Hart by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Hart with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 9.8% between the last two censuses.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 33%, while the percentage of households in Hart without children decreased from 58% to 57%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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